Structure for the Flexible Damping of Dynamic Effects on a Body, and a Damping Member

ABSTRACT

Structure, especially shoe-sole structure for the flexible damping dynamic effects on a body, which structure has layers ( 9, 10 ) situated transversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, connected to each other with flexible connecting element ( 11 ),said layers ( 9, 10 ) being situated at a distance from each other in an unloaded condition. This structure is characterized in that one end of the connecting elements ( 11 ) is caught in the cavity ( 19 ) created in at least one of the layers ( 10 ), and the internal space of the cavity ( 19 ) is larger than or the same as that of the connecting element ( 11 ) extending into it, and the connecting element ( 11 ) is made of a material with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of the material of the layers (9, 10). The invention also concerns a damping member.

The invention relates to a structure for the flexible damping of dynamiceffects on a body, especially a shoe-sole structure, mainly for sportingshoes. The subject of the invention is also a damping member that can beused for such structures.

In numerous fields of technical and everyday life the problem occursthat there is a need for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on abody, such as vibration, oscillation or shocks in order for a body inthe widest sense, for example a machine, building or sporting shoe, tobe able to bear dynamic effects ensuring its currently given function toan optimal extent at the same time.

In the course of using sporting shoes, every time the shoe-soles hit thefloor, such as land surface or the floor of a gymnasium, they transferdynamic stress onto the soles of sportspeople, or in a wider sensepersons wearing sporting shoes, and soles—also in respect of sportingshoes—also include heels. If shoe-soles are inflexible and hard, thedynamic effects generated when the shoe-soles hit the floor have anextremely harmful effect on the feet of the person wearing sportingshoes, on the ankle-joints and also on the knee and hip joints, as aresult of which sporting shoes (trainers) were manufactured withflexible soles even earlier, but they did not prove to be sufficient toavoid effects harmful to the joints.

As a result of research carried out by companies manufacturing sportingshoes involving significant intellectual and financial investments thedevelopment of sporting shoes has been aimed at approaching thebio-mechanical operation of feet wearing shoes to the operation of barefeet, because due to the connection of the shoe-sole surface and thefloor, which is different to the natural bare-footed sole surface, theshoes change the dynamic effects in a sense harmful to the joints, whicheffects are generated in the joints of bear feet when making differentmovements.

As a result of research specialists are hoping to ensure appropriateflexibility by creating a layered shoe-sole structure and making thebehaviour of shoe-soles during use similar to the bio-mechanicaloperation of bare feet. In order to reach this aim on the one part theyare trying to achieve desired flexibility by placing different layers,bent sole elements and longitudinal structural units on top of eachother, creating the possibility of folds on the given sole surfaces,sole layers and sole edges; on the other part they are trying to achieveoptimal flexibility and folding ability by inserting individual basecells, group of rod-like elements, air insoles and cells, making use ofthe deforming and dimensional changing ability of these elementsinserted between the layers occurring as a result of dynamic effects.However, so far they have not been able to find a solution satisfactoryfrom all aspects, because in the developed constructions the folding andflexibility zones are either too soft or too hard; in both casesproblems occur during use, so presently no sporting shoes are known thatcan ensure the folding possibilities and changing flexibility behaviourthat can be experienced when bare feet touch the floor.

The task to be solved with the invention is to provide a structure thatcan be used for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body in themost general sense of the word, which structure ensures damping moreefficient than the presently known similar structures, and alsotechnically it can be realised in a simple way and is reasonable fromthe aspect of economy. Within this scope the task to be solved with theinvention is also to provide a shoe-sole structure, especially sportingshoe-sole structure that provides maximum protection of the ankle, kneeand hip joints of the person wearing sporting shoes with soles of thistype, by approaching the bio-mechanical operation of bear soles. Finallythe task to be solved with the invention is also to provide a dampingmember that can be used as a part of such structures.

The invention is based on the following recognition: for example whenafter jumping up bare soles touch the ground again, in the first momentsthe skin surfaces gets in contact with the ground. AS compared to eachother the ground and the skin surface do not move, but a soft part ofabout 4-8 mm-s of the bare feet get deformed, and activated by this itforms a soft flexibility zone when hitting the ground. Whatever type ofmovements people make—e.g.: stepping, jumping, turning—only a certainpart of their soles touch the floor or the ground, which part folds andundergoes soft deformation when it touches the ground. At this point thestabilisation of the feet is started, and in the second phase the harderflexibility and appropriate stability is provided by the ligamentous andmuscular apparatus. In the first phase the dynamic effect is small andthe deformation—movement—is large, while in the second phase the dynamiceffect is large and deformation/movement is small.

On the basis of the above facts an optimal shoe-sole structure shouldcontain a folding/flexible zone that first ensures softer flexibilityallowing relatively larger deformation on the given sole-part, and thenharder flexibility allowing smaller deformation. In other words theshoe-sole structure should operate similarly to the bare sole—edge ofthe sole—when touching the ground. However, in the course of creatingthe right shoe-sole construction it should be taken into considerationthat if shoes, first of all sporting shoes are put on the feet, thebio-mechanical operation of the feet changes when touching the ground:the material of the edges of the shoes, the construction and flexibilityof the shoe-soles influence the operation of the feet, the legs and thejoints. First of all there is a greater risk of injury, especially theinjury of the ankles and the knees, in the course of making movementsassociated with sports.

Taking into consideration all aspects described above we realised thatthe disadvantages of the presently known sporting shoe soles listedabove can be overcome by using a sole structure that ensures the dampingof dynamic effects occurring while making movements within theshoe-sole, with a connection between the layers of sole, whichconnection is characterised by flexibility changing in two phases andallows slight movements—folding—between neighbouring sole layers.

On the basis of the above recognition, in accordance with the inventionthe set task was solved with a structure, especially shoe-sole structurefor the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, which structurehas layers situated transversally with respect to the direction of thedynamic effect, connected to each other with flexible connectingelements, situated at a distance from each other in an unloadedcondition, and which structure is characterised by that one end of theconnecting elements is caught in the cavity created in at least one ofthe layers, and the internal space of the cavity is larger than or thesame as that of the connecting element extending into it, and theconnecting elements are made of a material with a greater ability offlexible deformation than that of the material of the layers. The otherend of the connecting elements can be attached to the surface, forexample flat surface, of the other layer. Basically this solutionrepresents a connection between the layers that ensures two types ofdifferent flexibility occurring between the layers, for exampleshoe-sole parts, in two phases, and the movement of the layers withrespect to each other in space—that is in all directions—in the casethat dynamic effect occurs.

According to a favourable construction example the gap between thelayers is an air-gap, although the possibility is not excluded that thegap is filled with some compressible material or material suitable fordeflection as a result of pressure, for example gel, or with some otherplastic, soft material, or with gas other than air. Obviously inside thestructure space must be ensured for a material suitable for deflection.

Practically the connecting element and/or the cavity accommodating ithas the shape of a truncated cone, although other, practically optionalshapes can also be chosen, for example with a circular, oval orpolygonal cross-section. The connecting elements can be solid or hollow,which provides the possibility of changing the time and/or extent ofcompression and the movement of the layers to suit the current field ofuse of the structure.

According to a further feature of the invention—especially in the caseof shoe-sole structures—the connecting element starts from an upperlayer and extends downwards, into a cavity created in a lower layer.Obviously the connecting element can also start from the flat surface ofa lower layer and fit into the cavity of an upper layer facingdownwards. According to another construction example both ends of theconnecting element fit into a cavity respectively, created in layersfacing each other. It may also be practical, if one or more intermediatelayers are inserted between an upper layer and a lower layer, whichintermediate layers are connected to the upper layer and the lower layerwith a connecting element extending into a cavity, at a certain distancefrom them. Obviously other structural solutions are also possible,which—similarly to the cross-sectional shape and size of the connectingelements and the cavities, the material quality of the layers and theconnecting elements, etc.—must be chosen to ensure appropriate optimalflexibility and the possibility of folding and moving. This possibilityis also provided in another construction example by positioning theconnecting elements at right or other angles to the surface of thelayers connecting to them or at an angle or in a stepped formation.

Generally it is practical, if the layers are parallel to each other; andif the surface of the layers and/or connecting elements is smooth and/orcoarse, and/or grooved and/or wavy and/or arched; and if the connectingelements are attached to the layers connected to them by gluing. Afurther important feature of the invention is that only the end-plate ofthe connecting elements fitting into the cavity is fixed to thebottom-plate of the cavity, because in this way the connection elementhas the maximum freedom of lateral movement inside the cavity.

According to another construction example the materials of the layersconnected by the connecting elements that can be flexibly deformed to asmaller extent than above can have different flexibility; for example inthe case of shoe-soles the upper layer is made of polyethylene, theconnecting element is made of rubber, for example latex, and favourablythe lower layer is made of crêpe fabric. Obviously other type ofmaterials and combinations of materials, artificial and natural rubbers,plastics, etc. can also be used, and mostly the lower layer is made of aless flexible material, and obviously both layers are harder and lessflexible than the connecting elements.

The invention also relates to a damping member used for the structurefor the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, which dampingmember has a flexibly deformable connecting element situated betweenpractically parallel layers situated at a distance from each othertransversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, andis characterised by that one end of the connecting element is caught ina cavity created at least in one of the layers, and the internal spaceof the cavity is larger than or the same as that of the connectingelement extending into it; and the connecting element is made of amaterial with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of thematerial of the layers.

Below the invention is described in detail on the basis of the attacheddrawings containing the favourable construction examples of the solestructure of sporting shoes. In the drawings

FIGS. 1 a-1 d show three phases of the deformation of a bare human footwhen it touches the ground, and the geometrical position of the footduring deformation;

FIGS. 2 a-2 d how the situation shown in FIGS. 1 a-1 d changes, whenthere is a shoe on the same foot;

FIG. 3 shows a damping member of the sole structure according to theinvention in perspective view at a scale larger than in reality;

FIG. 4 shows another construction of a damping member of the structurein perspective view;

FIGS. 5 a-5 e show a few further possible constructions of the dampingmembers of the sole structure in diagrammatic vertical section;

FIGS. 6-8 show further possible constructions of the damping members ofthe sole structure according to the invention at an increased scale;

FIG. 9 a shows the upper layer of the sporting shoe with a solestructure according to the invention in perspective bottom view;

FIG. 9 b is the top view of the lower layer to be connected to the upperlayer as in FIG. 9 a;

FIG. 9 c is the bottom view of the united layers;

FIG. 9 d is the perspective view of a complete sporting shoe with a solestructure according to the invention;

FIG. 10 a shows the behaviour of a sporting shoe provided with a solestructure according to the invention when touching the ground, invertical section;

FIG. 10 b shows part A as marked in FIG. 10 a, at an increased scale;

FIGS. 10 c and 10 d shoe the behaviour—movement—of one single connectingelement during deformation;

FIGS. 11 a-11 d are curves showing the dynamic effect on the bare footand on shoe-soles of different structures, and the deformation of thefoot and sole structure occurring as a result of it.

FIG. 1 a shows the first phase of the process demonstrated by FIGS. 1a-1 c, and in this first phase a jumping or running person touches thefloor 6, e.g.: flat ground, 6 with the front part—edge—of the sole 4 ofhis/her foot, as a result of which the soft part 5 of the solve 4 ofabout 4-8 mm-s gets activated, softly deformed, folded and flattened ina way that the skin surface of the sole 4 and the surface of the floor 6do not move with respect to each other. By this the stabilisation of theleg starts, and it can be regarded as the first phase of softerflexibility. FIG. 1 b shows an intermediate phase of the deformationprocess. The heel 3 of the foot 1 moves downwards together with the leg,and finally it reaches the position as shown in FIG. 1 c, which can beregarded as the second phase of harder flexibility, in which theligamentous and muscular apparatus of the joints receives appropriatestability. As it has been pointed out above, in simple words it can besaid that in the first phase there is small dynamic effect and largedeformation and movement, while in the second phase there is largedynamic effect and small deformation and movement. FIG. 1 d shows thatthe foot touching the floor at an angle and the leg remain positionedalong the same line in each phase, the straight line does not breakwhere the foot and the leg join each other.

FIGS. 2 a-2 d show a process corresponding to the phases shown in FIGS.1 a-1 d, but in this case there is a traditional shoe 7—sporting shoe—on the foot. It can be seen in FIGS. 2 a-2 d that the shoe 7 changesthe behaviour—bio-mechanism—of the foot when touching the floor 6, as aresult of which the joints and the foot are not exposed to the stressshown in FIG. 1 d basically occurring in the direction of the axis ofthe leg, but this stress-line breaks in the region where the foot andthe leg join each other, as shown in FIG. 2 d; the problem caused by thechanged bio-mechanism resulting in a risk of injury is also shown inFIGS. 2 a-2 c.

The sole structure according to the invention makes it possible toproduce sporting shoes in the course of the use of which for examplewhen the foot of a sportsperson touches the floor the bio-mechanicalbehaviour of the foot is as close as possible to the behaviour of a barefoot as a result of the occurring dynamic effect. FIG. 3 shows a part ofthe sole according to the invention, namely one of its basic dampingmembers 8 the multitude of which comprises the sole structure itself.The upper layer 9 of the sole, the lower layer 10 and the connectingelement 11 joining them form parts of the damping member 8. To be moreclear in FIG. 3 the damping member 8 is shown with a part of the lowerlayer 10 removed, the connecting element 11 of the damping member 8 hasthe shape of a truncated cone the cross-section of which reducesdownwards. The connecting element 11 is attached to the lower surface ofthe upper layer 9 at its upper plate not shown here, and it extends intothe cavity 19 created in the lower layer 10 ending on its upper surface20, which has the shape of a truncated cone narrowing downwards. Thelower plate of the damping member 8 is attached to the lower flatsurface 21 of the cavity 19. Between the upper layer 9 and the lowerlayer 10 there is a gap 18 of a width, and it can also be seen in FIG. 3that the internal space of the cavity 19 is larger than or minimum thesame size as the internal space of the connecting element 11.Practically the lower and upper flat plate of the connecting element 11should be fixed to the internal surface of the layers 9, 10 for exampleby gluing, as a result of which connection is created between the latterlayers.

In accordance with the invention the material of the connecting element11 is chosen in a way that its flexible deformability is greater thanthat of the layers 9, 10, that is it is softer than the less flexiblematerial of the layers 9, 10. Furthermore the lower layer 10 can also beless flexible, harder than the upper layer 9. For example the materialof the upper layer 9 can be polyethylene—PUR or EVA; the connectingelement 11 may be made of rubber (latex); and the material of the lowerlayer 10 touching the floor can be crepe fabric.

The only difference between the damping member shown in FIG. 4 and theone in FIG. 3 is that in FIG. 4 the connecting element 12 has the shapeof a truncated cone the cross-section of which increases downwards, sothe reference numbers and signs used in FIG. 3 are also used here torefer to the same structural parts, and parts not visible are markedwith a broken line. The upper plate of the connecting element 11attached to the lower surface of the layer 9 is marked with referencenumber 22.

In FIGS. 5 a-5 e the layers are also marked with reference number 9 and10, and between them there is always a gap 18, and in each case aconnecting element 11 extends into the lower layer 10, and the materialof the connecting element 11 is different from the material of thelayers 9, 10, and the layers 9, 10 also have a different material fromeach other; it is shown by shading them differently and by dotting theconnecting elements 11 the lower and upper surfaces of which are fixedto the internal surface of the layers 9, 10 by gluing. FIGS. 5 a-5 eshow that there are innumerable possibilities of creating the dampingmember 8, by choosing different materials, geometrical shapes and layerpositions.

FIGS. 6-8 at an increased scale show—only as an example—that geometricalversions the connecting element 8 can also have structural versions,which are also included in the scope of protection of the invention. Theonly difference between the solution shown in FIG. 6 and the solutionshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is that in FIG. 6 another cavity 12 also shapedlike a truncated cone is built in the upper layer 9 of the dampingmember 8 of the sole structure from inside, opposite the cavity 19 inthe lower sole layer 10, and the connecting element 11 joins the layers9, 10 by fitting into these cavities 19, 12 and being glued in them. Inthis case the internal space of the cavities 19, 12 together must belarger than or at least the same as the internal space of the connectingelement 11.

The damping member 8 shown in FIG. 7 contains an intermediate layer 13situated at a certain distance from the layers 9, 10, that is separatedfrom them by gaps 18, 18 a, and a cone-shaped cavity 13 is cut into itssurface facing the lower layer 10, and a cone-shaped connecting element11 a is fixed to its upper surface, which connecting element 11 a fitsinto and is glued into the cone-shaped cavity 12 cut into the internalsurface of the upper layer 9. A second cone-shaped connecting element 11b starts from and is attached to the internal surface of the lower layer10, and it fits into and is fixed into a cone-shaped nest 14 cut intothe lower surface of the intermediate layer 13. The cavities 12, 14 andthe connecting elements 11 a, 11 b have a common x geometrical axis.

The damping member 8 shown in FIG. 8 is similar to the one in shown inFIG. 6, because cone-shaped cavities 19, 12 facing inwards are cut intoboth layers 9 and 10, and cone-shaped connecting elements 11 a, 11 bfixed to an intermediate layer 15, extending downwards and upwards fromit are fixed into the cavities 19, 12 for example by gluing.

In the case of the damping members 8 shown in FIGS. 6-8 the connectingelements 11, 11 a and 11 b are also made of a material with greaterflexible deformability—from a softer flexible material—like the layers9, 10, 13 and 15. They—similarly to the connecting elements 8 in FIGS. 5a-5 d—should always be used to suit the current task to be solved. Itmust be pointed out here that the dimensions in the figures are notright, the figures serve the purpose of explaining the invention.

FIG. 9 a shows the upper layer 9 of a structure according to theinvention for the damping of dynamic effects on the foot when touchingthe ground, which upper layer 9 forms a part of the sole of a shoe 7. Inseparate regions 16, 17 and 23, 24, 25 the layer 9 contains connectingelements 11, for example as shown in FIG. 3, extending downwards fromits surface; in the interest of better comprehensibility theseconnecting elements 11 are only shown—distorted—in regions 16 and 17. InFIG. 9 b the lower layer 10 of the structure can be seen in top view,and the upper layer 9 fits onto it, and in accordance with this inregions 16′, 17′ and 23′-25′ corresponding to regions 16, 17 and 23-25it contains cavities 19. Before fitting the layers 9 and 10 together,the sole-surface of the cavities 19 (see plate 21 in FIG. 3) and/or thefront plate of the connecting elements 11 (see plate 22 in FIG. 4) isprovided with adhesive coating, and in this way secure connection isrealised between the layers 9, 10 when they are joined together ensuringat the same time the possibility of the flexible deformation of theconnection elements 11. The whole shoe 7 can be seen in FIG. 9 c, and onthe sole 4 the parts containing the structure according to the inventionfor the flexible damping of dynamic effects are shaded. FIG. 9 d is theperspective view of a part of the sole structure containing severalconnecting elements 11 connecting layers 9 and 10 in a still undeformedcondition. In FIG. 9 d the structural parts described above are markedwith the reference numbers already used.

It must be pointed out that in the regions situated on different partsof he sole structure damping members 8 (FIG. 3) (base cells) suiting thedynamic effects occurring there and the deformation expected there canbe used, consequently their dimensions and/or shape and/or materialquality, the gap width, and the proportions of the internal space of theconnecting element and its cavity, etc. can be different in each region.

Below the operation of the damping members of the structure according tothe invention is described on the basis of FIG. 3, where it can be seenthat—as in the case of all similar damping members—the internal space ofthe connecting element 11 is smaller than or maximum the same size asthe internal space of the cavity 19. It can be seen clearly on the basisof FIG. 3 and the flexibility difference described above in connectionwith it that as a result of a dynamic effect of any direction the upperlayer 9 of the sole of the sporting shoe can move even laterally, whileit approaches the surface of the lower layer 10 touching the floor—e.g.:ground surface—not moving with respect to it. This lateral and downwardmovement of the upper layer 9 is ensured by the gap 18 and the gapbetween the lateral surface of the cavity 19 and the connecting element11 the size of which gap can be chosen to manipulate the extent ofmovements. In the first phase of touching the floor softer flexibilityis ensured by the fact that the flexible deformability of the materialof the connecting element 11 is significantly larger than that of thematerial of the lower layer 10, which gets hardly deformed, while theconnecting element 11 is deformed by dynamic effects to a great extentand is gradually pushed into the cavity 19, while—depending on thedirection of the current dynamic effect—the connecting element 11 can beslightly pushed laterally too. During the process of the deformation ofthe connecting element 11 the a width of the gap 18—air-gap—becomesgradually smaller, finally it gets closed, the upper layer 9 is pressedonto the lower layer 10, and by this the final flexibility of the solestructure reducing dynamic effects depending on the material of theselayers is achieved, which is the second phase of generating flexibility.

The behaviour of the structure according to the invention is describedon the basis of FIGS. 10 a-10 d. In FIG. 10 a the foot wearing a shoe 7touches the floor 6 in a position with an angular x axis as compared tothe z vertical axis, and due to the structure according to the inventionthe leg 2 remains in this straight position even after hitting thefloor, it does not give way. Due to the structure formed by the dampingmembers 8 built in along the gap 18—the same reference numbers are usedas above—, as a result of the eccentric forces P, P′ the connectingelements 11 of soft flexibility are pressed in as shown in FIG. 10 b andby this they make movements possible into the cavities 19 allocated tothem as shown by the arrows in FIG. 10 b, as well as the lateralmovements of the layers 9 and 10 with respect to each other, until thegap 18—air-gap—is closed in the region shown on the right of FIG. 10 a.FIG. 10 b shows an intermediate condition of deformation, in which thelower surface of the upper layer 9 has not yet reached the upper surfaceof the lower layer 10. While the movements in the sole structure hittingthe floor 6 take place as shown by the arrows in FIG. 10 b, the solesurface does not move with respect to the floor 6, as shown by arrows b.

FIGS. 10 c and 10 d are schematic geometrical drawings showing only theprocess of the deformation of the cavity 19 and the connecting element11 fitting into it caused by dynamic effects p ¹ , p indicated byarrows. The first phase of flexible deformation—“soft”deformation—starts in the phase shown in FIG. 10 c, as a result of whichthe connecting element 11 is gradually pressed into the cavity19—becomes activated—and in accordance with the direction of the p ¹force it also moves to the right, which also results in the slightmovement of the sole layers in space with respect to each other. Asshown in FIG. 3, in initial position the connecting element 11 extendsout from the cavity 19 at a distance a. When the top of the connectingelement 11—that is the upper sole layer not shown here—reaches the levelof the opening of the cavity 19, the first phase ends and the secondphase of “harder” flexibility independent from the first phase takesplace, in the course of which the harder lower and upper layers (FIGS.3-8) start to operate. So it is obvious that in the first phase the solestructure gets folded even in the case of a small amount of dynamiceffect, and it gets softly deformed to a relatively large extent, and inthe second phase it ensures the final harder flexibility, theappropriate stability. In this phase there is great dynamic effect andsmall deformation or movement.

The invention has the following favourable effects:

The greatest advantage of the invention is that as a result of theoperation of the shoe-sole structure described above the foot wearingthe shoe behaves like a bare foot when touching the floor, such asground surface, and in the angle, knee and hip joints are also strainedin this way—basically similar to natural straining—, that is the naturalbio-mechanical behaviour of the foot wearing the shoe corresponds to thesame behaviour of the bare foot, for example in the course of makingsporting movements there is a minimal risk of injuries. Thiscircumstance is demonstrated by the comparative curves shown in FIGS. 11a-11 c showing the behaviour of the sole structure according to theinvention as a function of the force (P) and the movement (E). Curve min FIG. 11 a shows the behaviour of the bare foot, while curve l in FIG.11 b shows the behaviour of a soft sole based on the theoreticalsupposition that the complete width of the shoe-sole is made of thematerial of the connecting elements according to the invention. At thesame time curve k in FIG. 11 c shows the behaviour of a sole thecomplete width of which is made of a hard material. Obviously curve mshows the ideal behaviour of the sole; in the case of curve l themovement is too large even in the case of small dynamic effect, while inthe case of curve k there is slight movement even in the case of greatdynamic effect. Shoe-soles characterised either by curve l or k do notsatisfy requirements expected from sporting shoes. As opposed to thiscurve tin FIG. 11 d representing the sole structure according to theinvention shows that in the first “soft” phase I of flexible deformationthere is great movement E even in the case of small dynamic effectsuiting the initial section of curve m, while in the second phase II ofharder flexibility the extent of movement E becomes much smaller as theforce P increases.

As a result of dynamic effects during movements the invention ensurestwo types of alternating flexibility occurring in two phasesindependently from each other inside the shoe-sole, as well as slightpossibilities of movement in space and folding between the sole layersand sole parts similar to that of the bare sole surface, which solelayers and sole parts can ensure different flexibility and ability ofmovement independently from each other. The sizes and material qualitiesof all parts of the damping members can be changed, as a result of whichthe optimal flexibility behaviour and movement ability of a given solepart or sole surface can be ensured, and the most different demands canbe satisfied. By changing the width of the gaps the movement of thelayers can be influenced as well as the direction and extent ofmovements. By choosing the right damping members horizontal, diagonal,arched, etc. layers can be joined to each other, and by this astructure, for example shoe-sole structure, can be created in whichtwo—or more—different and independent flexibility conditions occur as aresult of dynamic effects, namely softer flexibility with thepossibility of large deformation/movement in the first phase and finalharder flexibility and appropriate stability in the second phase,because of the compression and layer movement occurring in the firstphase, after the air-gaps have been closed. Consequently in the case ofsporting shoe soles movements and folds take place as a result of theflexible deformation of the connecting elements, but after the closingof the gap the lower sole part and the floor do not move any more withrespect to each other, so the complete shoe-sole reacts to the dynamiceffects occurring when touching the ground like the sole edges and soleparts of a bare foot, as a result of which the dynamic effects occurringin the joints of a foot wearing a shoe and the bio-mechanical operationof the joints are very similar to the bio-mechanical operation of thebare foot.

Obviously the invention is not restricted to the construction examplesof the structure and damping member described above, but it can berealised in several ways within the scope of protection defined by theclaims. Although the invention is described above on the basis of ashoe-sole structure, obviously the structure and the damping member canbe used to solve all tasks where the damping of dynamic effects isneeded. Of all possible fields of use the foundation and construction ofmachines generating vibrations and oscillations during operation isemphasised, in the case of which these movements can be damped veryefficiently by installing the structure according to the invention, butit can also be used in the course of making the foundations of buildingsexposed to the risk of earthquakes. In order to solve these tasksobviously layers and connecting elements of the appropriate geometry andthe right combination of materials must be chosen taking intoconsideration the current circumstances and conditions.

1. Structure, especially shoe-sole structure for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, which structure has layers situated transversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, connected to each other with flexible connecting elements, situated at a distance from each other in an unloaded condition, characterised by that one end of the connecting elements (11) is caught in the cavity (19) created in at least one of the layers (10), and the internal space of the cavity (19) is larger than or the same as that of the connecting element (11) extending into it, and the connecting element (11) is made of a material with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of the material of the layers (9, 10).
 2. Structure as in claim 1, characterised by that the gap (18) between the layers (9, 10) is an air-gap.
 3. Structure as in claim 1 or 2, characterised by that the connecting element (11) and/or the cavity (19) accommodating it has the shape of a truncated cone.
 4. Structure as in any of claims 1-3, characterised by that the connecting element (11) is solid.
 5. Structure as in any of claims 1-3, characterised by that the connecting element (11) is hollow.
 6. Structure as in any of claims 1-5, characterised by that—especially in the case of shoe-sole structure—the connecting element (11) starts from an upper layer and extends downwards into a cavity (19) cut into lower layer (10).
 7. Structure as in any of claims 1-5, characterised by that both ends of the connecting element (11) fit into a cavity (12; 19) cut into a layer (9, 10), facing each other.
 8. Structure as in any of claims 1-5, characterised by that one or more intermediate layers (13; 15) are inserted between an upper layer (9) and a lower layer (19), which intermediate layers (13; 15) are connected to the upper layer (9) and the lower layer (10) with a connecting element (11; 11 a; 11 b) extending into a cavity (19; 12; 14), at a certain distance from them.
 9. Structure as in any of claims 1-8, characterised by that the connecting elements (11) are positioned at right angles to the surface of the layers (9, 10) connecting to them or at an angle to them or in a stepped formation.
 10. Structure as in any of claims 1-9, characterised by that the layers (9, 10; 13; 15) are parallel to each other.
 11. Structure as in any of claims 1-10, characterised by that the surface of the layers (9, 10; 13; 15) and/or connecting elements (11; 11 a; 11 b ) is smooth and/or coarse, and/or grooved and/or wavy and/or arched.
 12. Structure as in any of claims 1-11, characterised by that the connecting elements (11; 11 a; 11 b) are attached to the layers (9, 10; 13; 15) connected to them by gluing.
 13. Structure as in any of claims 1-12, characterised by that only the end-plate of the connecting elements (11; 11 a; 11 b) fitting into the cavity (19; 12; 13) is fixed to the bottom-plate (21) of the cavity (19; 12; 13).
 14. Structure as in any of claims 1-13, characterised by that the materials of the layers (9, 10) connected by the connecting elements (11) that can be flexibly deformed to a smaller extent than above can have different flexibility; for example in the case of shoe-soles the upper layer (9) is made of polyethylene, the connecting element (11) is made of rubber, for example latex, and favourably the lower layer (10) is made of crêpe fabric.
 15. Damping member for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, which damping member has a flexibly deformable connecting element situated between practically parallel layers situated at a distance from each other transversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, characterised by that one end of the connecting element (11) is caught in a cavity (19) created at least in one of the layers (10), and the internal space of the cavity (19) is larger than or the same as that of the connecting element (11) extending into it; and the connecting element (11) is made of a material with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of the material of the layers (9, 10). 